Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland introduced a bill in the House of Commons last week that will provide the required changes to Canadian laws so that the country may join the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

According to Global Affairs Canada the existing system of export controls already meets or exceeds the majority of ATT provisions, but to both enhance transparency and fully comply with the treaty, legislative amendments are proposed to the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and one section of the Criminal Code of Canada

The bill will establish controls over brokering in military goods between two countries outside of Canada. Brokering is defined as arranging or negotiating a transaction that relates to the movement of goods or technology (on a new Brokering Control List) from a foreign country to another foreign country.

Within other changes, the new law will also increase the maximum fine under the EIPA from $25,000 to $250,000 for summary conviction offences, as well as create a legal obligation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to consider certain assessment criteria before authorizing permits.